Cushion pad insertable between heavy panels

ABSTRACT

A molded plastic cushion pad for insertion between respective heavy panels such as precast concrete, architectural slabs used in building construction. A typical plastic pad is molded from polyethylene about the size of a small book and is rectangular in formation with a flat, smooth backside and a front side substantially covered with large protruding bumps, and in a pertinent location near one end of the pad there is molded integrally with a pad a short, stubby hanger that extends alongside the panel when the pad is in place. The bumps have spaces between them so that air may circulate.

tea atet some n. Peacoelt [72] Inventor 325 Elizabeth St., N.E.,Atlanta, Ga. 30307 [21] Appl. No. 839,450 [22]- Filed July 7, 11969 [45]Patented ct.12,11971 [54] CUSHION lPAl) INSEETAIBLE BETWEEN HEAVY PANELSClaims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 2141/1105 10, 105/369 S [51] llnLCl E65 11/114 Field ofSearch 248/119; 206/; 108/51; 220/97 B; 214/; 105/367, 369 S [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,514,512 11/1924 Fisher 220/97 BUX 1,519,901 12/1924 Boaz et a1. 214/105 2,075,472 3/1937 Schwary et al214/105 X 3,220,681 11/1965 Erbert 108/51 X 3,247,810 4/1966 Sepe et al.108/51 X 3,385,429 5/1968 Becker ct a1 220/97 B X PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. WernerAttorney-Patrick F. Henry ABSTRACT: A molded plastic cushion pad forinsertion between respective heavy panels such as precast concrete,architectural slabs used in building construction. A typical plastic padis molded from polyethylene about the size of a small book and isrectangular in formation with a flat, smooth backside and a front sidesubstantially covered with large protruding bumps, and in a pertinentlocation near one end of the pad there is molded integrally with a pad ashort, stubby hanger that extends alongside the panel when the pad is inplace. The bumps have spaces between them so that air may circulate.

PATENTED can 219?: 13,612,301

CUSHION FAD INSEIRTAELE IIE'IWEEN li-IEAVI' IANEIJS BACIIGROUND OF THEINVENTION of heavy concrete panels or the like by means of pads made ofrubber or plastic. Usually such pads are flat on both sides and made ofa spongy or cushioned material. On certain types of architecturalpanels, uncured concrete or colored panels, such pads can causediscoloration or faulty curing where the pads come into contact with thematerial. Furthermore, simple flat pads cannot be inserted or removedunless the heavy panels are separated, and this is sometimes a difficulttask. The present pad being flat on one side makes a firm engagementwith the bottom of one panel and being provided with bumps on the otherside leaves openings and spacings through which air can circulate aswell as utilizing the material in the bumps for cushing. Verysignificant is the simple and inexpensive production of the whole pad inone unitary molding operation from polyethylene plastic or similarmaterial and the inclusion of a member in the form of a small stumpwhich is a hanger protruding from a pertinent spot near one edge of thepad and hanging outside of the heavy stack so that the pad hangs on thehanger on the edge of one inclined panel and remains in place untilanother inclined panel is positioned against the pad which is thencompressed in place. The same pad arrangement may be used for stackingof the panels horizontally mainly to avoid manufacture and stocking ofpads of more than one form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of atypical pad made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the pad shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing three heavy concrete,architectural panels separated by means of the present pad.

FIG. 4 shows the three panels in FIG. 3 stacked vertically one onanother utilizing the present pads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For use with a plurality of closely associated,heavy architectural panels such as precast concrete slabs arranged sothat the weight of one panel would at least partially apply to a nextpanel, a cushioned pad molded in one piece from polyethylene plastic andthe like having a substantially flat surface on one side and the otherside having a plurality of integrally molded solid, spaced bumps, eachwith an arcuate periphery, and there being a short stump integrallymolded on said pad and protruding then from from a pertinent locationclose to one end of the pad whereby said stump is outside of the stackof panels and extends to be grasped for removal.

DISCUSSION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cushion pad, which may bereferred to either as a pad or a cushion, is designated generally byreference numeral III is molded integrally in one piece by aconventional molding operation from typical curing. such as polyethyleneplastic. The pad generally is rectangular in formation and has abackside I2 and a front side I4 both of which are basically flat andwhereas the backside I2 is substantially smooth and unencumbered, thefront side I4] has molded integrally thereon a plurality of bumps I415which are solidly constructed simultaneously with the integral moldingof the entire pad III and from the same material. Each bump In in thepresent form is substantially hemispherical in shape but his is not amandatory shape since other shapes or bumps may be used such as asection of any solid curvature.

Also, while approximately half of a sphere has been molded in thepresent form this is not a critical dimension as the bumps may be largeror smaller in protrusion as may fit the molding operation and thedesired spacing between the panels. One of the bumps I65 has moldedintegrally there with a hanger II]! which is a short stump of materialmolded on the top of that particular bump In.

As seen in FIG, 3 an arrangement of a heavy plurality of heavy,architectural precast concrete panels designated generally by referencenumeral 240 has each panel 20 inclined against the next one for purposesof curting. The present pads III are positioned between respective,successive panels 20 with the hanger I8 lying against the top edge 22 ofthe intermediate panels between the top and the bottom and the bumpswith the pad III are compressed between the respective panels 20. PadsI0 hang by hangers I8 in place on one panel III until the nextsuccessive panel 20 is positioned in place as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the panels 20 can be stacked vertically one of themon top of the other with the pads 10 there between and with the smallhanger I8 lying against the end 22. There is a minimum amount of contactbetween the bumps 16 and the surface of the panel 20 against whichparticular bumps lie which makes it easy to slide bumps I6 along saidsurface and since the material such as polyethylene plastic and the likeare smooth and have some amount of built-in direction it is not toodifiicult to grasp of the hanger I8 and pull the pad from between therespective panels 2%. Air can circulate readily along the grooves 26between the bumps I6 to prevent curing stains. Also, damage to thepanels 20 is reduced both during storage as well as during movement andalso the load support reduces some of the crushing effect of the weightof the concrete pads.

The pads are provided with holes 28 in opposite comers which can be usedto nail the pads to wood frames whenever necessary or for any other usewhen it would be necessary to penetrate the pads III.

While I have shown and described a particular form of the pad togetherwith certain shapes, and while the particular pad contains a certainnumber of bumps In various alterations, changes, deviations,eliminations, modifications, substitutions and alterations may be madein the particular form depicted and described.

Iclaim:

I. In a cushioned pad to be positioned between respective, successiveheavy panels such as precast, concrete architectural panels:

a. a unitary, molded pad constructed from polyethylene and the like, andhaving a substantially flat back and a plurality of spaced, protrudingbumps on the front arranged in spaced relationship along and across saidpad,

b. and a short hanger member molded on said pad and formed integrallytherewith at a pertinent position adjacent the end, said pad beinglocated to receive the weight of one panel against the other and saidhanger being outside of said panel,

said pad being molded in one piece and said hanger being moldedintegrally extending substantially perpendicular therefrom,

said bumps being molded of solid, resilient plastic and the like tocushion said panels.

2. The pad in claim I:

said hanger being molded integrally on top of one of the bumps.

3. The pad in claim I:

said hanger being cylindrical in formation.

I. The pad in claim I,

said bumps being portions of spheres.

5. The pad in claim I said hanger being molded with said bumps andextending outwardly from the top of one of said bumps.

1. In a cushioned pad to be positioned between respective, successiveheavy panels such as precast, concrete architectural panels: a. aunitary, molded pad constructed from polyethylene and the like, andhaving a substantially flat back and a plurality of spaced, protrudingbumps on the front arranged in spaced relationship along and across saidpad, b. and a short hanger member molded on said pad and formedintegrally therewith at a pertinent position adjacent the end, said padbeing located to receive the weight of one panel against the other andsaid hanger being outside of said panel, said pad being molded in onepiece and said hanger being molded integrally extending substantiallyperpendicular therefrom, said bumps being molded of solid, resilientplastic and the like to cushion said panels.
 2. The pad in claim 1: saidhanger being molded integrally on top of one of the bumps.
 3. The pad inclaim 1: said hanger being cylindrical in formation.
 4. The pad in claim1, said bumps being portions of spheres.
 5. The pad in claim 1 saidhanger being molded with said bumps and extending outwardly from the topof one of said bumps.